Dr. Steven D. Schwartz, MD

VITREORETINAL SURGEON
Former Retina Division Chief, UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute

Dr. Steven Schwartz is an internationally renowned vitreoretinal surgeon and translational scientist who helped pioneer anti-VEGF therapy—the injections now used worldwide to treat macular degeneration. Perhaps best known for advancing gene and stem cell treatments for macular diseases, his innovations in diagnostic imaging, surgical instrumentation, and drug delivery have become standard care in retina centers across the globe.

As former Ahmanson Chair, Professor of Ophthalmology, and Retina Division Chief at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute, Dr. Schwartz has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers, trained more than 60 vitreoretinal fellows, and delivered prestigious international lectures including the Royal Society of Medicine and The Emperor’s Lecture in Tokyo.

Languages: 

English, Spanish

"My passion is preventing preventable vision loss. So much blindness is preventable—just with access, early diagnosis, and proper treatment."

Dr. Steven D. Schwartz

Meet Dr. Schwartz

Professional Background

Education & Training

Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship Moorfields Eye Hospital, London | 1993–1994

Retina/Uveitis Fellowship Moorfields Eye Hospital / University of London Institute of Ophthalmology | 1992–1993

Ophthalmology Residency Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA | 1989–1992

Rotating Internship (Medicine/Surgery/Anesthesia) Los Angeles County / USC General Hospital | 1988–1989

Doctor of Medicine (MD) University of Southern California School of Medicine | 1988

Bachelor of Science University of California, Berkeley | 1983

Current Hospital Affiliations:

  • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  • UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center


Board Certification:

  • American Board of Ophthalmology (1994)


Fellowships & Memberships:

  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
  • Honorary Fellow, Royal College of Ophthalmology
  • American Society of Retina Specialists (former Board of Directors)
  • The Retina Society
  • The Macula Society
  • Club Jules Gonin

Clinical Recognition:

  • Best Doctors in America (since 2001)
  • Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine (2021)
  • Venice Family Free Clinic — Physician of the Year (2006)


Academic Honors:

  • Ahmanson Chair in Ophthalmology, UCLA (2007)
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology — Secretariat Award (2006)
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology — Achievement Award (2000)
  • American Society of Retina Specialists — Honor Award (2007)


Grants:

  • 16 NIH Grants (Principal Investigator)
  • 2 CIRM Grants (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine)

Dr. Schwartz’s research has been featured on the cover of The Lancet and covered by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, CNN, and CBS Evening News. As Principal Investigator on 16 NIH grants and 2 CIRM grants, his current work focuses on translating laboratory discoveries into treatments that restore and preserve vision.

Current Research Interests:

  • Gene and stem cell therapies for macular degeneration and Stargardt’s disease
  • AI-guided microsurgical robotics for eye surgery
  • Teleophthalmological screening to improve access to care
  • Clinical trials for wet and dry AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and ROP

What Patients Are Saying

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360 N. Bedford Drive, Floor 3 Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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Treatment Options at RVC

Surgical

Intravitreal Injections (Anti-VEGF Therapy)

The primary treatment for wet AMD to reduce fluid and preserve vision.

Surgical

Photobiomodulation

A non-invasive light therapy to support retinal health in dry AMD.

Surgical

Pneumatic Retinopexy

Pneumatic retinopexy is an in-office procedure used to repair certain types of retinal detachment — a condition where the retina separates from the back wall of the eye.

Surgical

Retinal Laser Therapy

Retinal laser therapy is an in-office procedure in which your retina specialist uses a focused beam of light to treat damaged or at-risk areas of your retina.